Creating renewable sources of construction material
Reducing the use of all major modes of transportation
Harvesting enough crops to provide the basic needs of all humans
The process of using resources to meet the needs of both current and future generations is referred to as:
Preservation
Remediation
NAFTA
Sustainability
A sustainable society would emphasize
using energy efficiently and reusing and recycling matter
recycling both matter and high-quality energy
converting the world’s high-quality energy resources to low-quality heat
maintaining the current rates of energy flow and resource use
Which of the following is NOT a sustainable practice?
Reusing
Reducing
Recycling
Buying
As carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere rise:
• The temperature of Earth rises --> The rate of photosynthesis in plants increases --> More carbon dioxide is therefore removed from the atmosphere by plants, reducing the greenhouse effect and reducing global temperatures
Positive Feedback Loop
Negative Feedback Loop
As Earth warms:
• Ice cover melts, exposing soil or water --> Albedo decreases --> More energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface --> Global temperature rises --> More ice melts
Positive Feedback Loop
Negative Feedback Loop
As Earth warms, upper layers of permafrost melt, producing waterlogged soil above frozen ground:
• Methane gas is released in an anoxic environment --> Greenhouse effect is enhanced --> Earth warms, melting more permafrost
Positive Feedback Loop
Negative Feedback Loop
As Earth warms, evaporation increases:
• Snowfall at high latitudes increases --> Icecaps enlarge --> More energy is reflected by the increased albedo of ice cover --> Earth cools --> Rates of evaporation fall